How to Make the Most of Your Third Year in Medical School: A Guide to the Operating Room - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

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By Anna Sabu Kurian

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Are you entering your third year of medical school and feeling a mix of excitement and nerves? This is a crucial time that will help you determine your specialty in medicine. One area that might seem intimidating is the operating room. However, with the right approach, you can make the most of your clinical rotation and learn valuable skills. Here are some suggestions for optimizing your third year experience in the operating room.

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Preparation is Key

Before each scheduled surgical procedure, take the time to read about the specifics of the surgery. Review the anatomy and vasculature of the structures involved. Dr. Virgilio’s surgery textbook is a valuable resource for this. By being well-prepared, you can enhance your understanding and contribute meaningfully during the surgery.

Practice Makes Perfect

Suturing is a fundamental skill for any aspiring surgeon. Practice one-handed ties, two-handed ties, and instrument ties. Watch video tutorials to refine your technique and ensure you can perform these techniques confidently. Here’s a helpful resource: youtube.com/@dr.omedary8170.

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Be a Valuable Team Player

Once you arrive at the hospital, introduce yourself to the patient in the pre-operative area. Familiarize yourself with the nurses, scrub techs, and anesthesia team in the operating room. Offer assistance by handing out gloves and gowns to the team. Transport and prepare the patient under the guidance of the residents and attendings. It is important to learn how to correctly position the patient for different procedures.

Clear Communication is Crucial

Maintain clear communication with the resident or attending once the patient is in the operating room and getting prepped. Be proactive and assist wherever needed before, during, and after the case. Effective communication with your seniors and residents is essential for seamless teamwork.

Post-Op Care

After the case is completed in the operating room, help transport the patient to the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) and stay with them until the first set of vitals are recorded. Inform the resident about the patient’s condition in the PACU, including extubation and stable vitals. Your attentiveness ensures continuity of care.

Rounding on Surgical Patients

When rounding on surgical patients, it is beneficial to pre-round on your patients before joining the resident and attending on their rounds. Communicate with the patient’s nurse to gather any crucial information that may have been missed. Prepare the necessary supplies in the room before official rounding to save time. If you have follow-up tasks, ensure they are completed promptly.

During rounds, pay attention to any orders or tests that need to be followed up on. For example, if a CT scan is ordered for increasing abdominal pain, monitor the progress and update the team if necessary.

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For a concise guide on your daily round presentation, check out: docs.google.com/document/d/1YDyC8YzY6P3B7LEScVeBFv5jKFyUtFsfTLbbMdqWiCg/edit?usp=sharing.

Navigating Surgery Clinic Days

Before clinic days, take the time to review the charts of a few patients and create an assessment and plan. This allows you to compare your initial plan with the final plan decided by the supervising physician. During the clinic, conduct a thorough history and physical examination. Be prepared to present your assessment and plan, even if it may not be entirely accurate. Critical thinking and practice will help improve your skills.

Ensure you have the necessary supplies ready in the patient room based on the type of clinic visit. For example, have staple removers, dressing change materials, and iodoform packings readily available.

Learn from Everyone

Remember, you can learn from everyone on your team, including nurses, scrub techs, and the anesthesia team. Adopt a humble attitude and be receptive to learning a vast amount of material in a short period. By keeping an open mind, helping within your capabilities, and showing respect to everyone on the team, you will pave the way for success!